Composite display package



p 7, 19155 D. L. WALDRON I 3,204 %1 COMPOSITE DISPLAY PACKAGE Filed Dec. 3, 1965 INVENTOR. DONALD L. WALDRON AT TORNEYS United States Patent 3,204,761 COMPOSITE DISPLAY PACKAGE Donald L. Waldron, 12246 Old Rive School Road, Downey, Calif. Filed Dec. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 327,743 Claims. (Cl. 206-47) The present invention relates to a composite display package, and more particularly to a package having a cover to contain and display a product and further having a base which constitutes a premium to support the cover in complemental relationship.

Many manufacturers have found it advantageous to vend a premium or premiums with their product. Sometimes the premium itself constitutes the product package or container, as in the case of molded plastic figures for carrying liquid soap and the like, While in other cases the premium is commingled with the product. In still other instances the premium is attached to the exterior of the product package in a transparent plastic bubble or the like.

All of these methods have disadvantages which limit their usefulness. Commingling of the premium with certain products has a deleterious effect, attachment of the premium to the package exterior subjects the premium to possible crushing during shipping and handling and possible theft prior to sale, and incorporation of the product in a container consisting the premium is not very well suited to solid products. Comestibles such as cookies and pastries, and small items such as tubes of tooth paste and the like, pose particularly difficult problems in this regard.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a composite display package which is not only adapted to display a product in an appealing manner but which also incorporates a premium as an integral part of the package. It is a related object of the invention to provide such a package adaptedfor processing by the well known cellophane overwrapping machinery, which wraps the package and its contents with transparent cellophane. More particularly, the component parts of the present package are fitted in complemental relationship such that relative lateral movement therebetween is prevented during the cellophane overwrapping operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a composite display package of the aforementioned character comprising a cover which also constitutes the container for the product, and a rigid base for supporting and complementally mating with the cover, and wherein the base constitutes the premium, the base being molded to define a raised relief portion or portions which can be painted, decorated, or cut out of the material of the base, as the consumer sees fit. With this arrangement, the base serves a dual function, both rigidifying the cover and its contents against bending and sagging, and also defining a figure or the like in relief for use by the consumer upon discarding the cover. A salient feature of the cover is that it may be made of thin, lightweight, and transparent material having the substantially upright portions thereof slightly inclined or tapered relative to a vertical axis so that a plurality of such covers may be stacked in internested relationship.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a composite display package of the aforementioned character in which the cover is adapted for association with either of two types of premium-bases. The cover is provided with a central channel opening in one direction and adjacent side channels opening in the opposite direction so that the central channel may be arranged to overlie a base having a central, high relief figure, the adjacent channels of the cover thereby opening upwardly for reapplication.

3,294,761 Patented Sept. 7, 1955 ceipt of the products to be vended. Alternatively, the orientation of the cover may be reversed so that the side channels overlie a pair of high relief figures provided at opposite sides of a premium-base, and the central, up- Wardly opening channel then receives the product to be vended. In this regard, the latter form of premium-base is particularly adapted to provide a premium in which one of the high relief figures constitutes one side of a threedimensional figure, and the other side constitutes the mating half of the three-dimensional figure whereby the two high relief sections may be cut away by the customer from the remainder of the premium-base and adhered together to define a unitary, three-dimensional figure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a composite display package which is adapted for mass production and which is made of comparatively inexpensive materials, the cover and premium-base preferably being made of low cost cellophane and plastic foam material, respectively.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a composite display package according to the present invention, a portion of the cover 1bgeing cut away to more clearly illustrate the premiumase;

FIG. 2 is a tranverse, cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another composite display package according to the present invention, a portion of the cover being cut away to more clearly illustrate the premium base;

FIG. 4 is a tranverse, cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illutrated a composite display package 10 comprising a cover 12 made of thin, transparent material, such as cellophane or any of the well known sheet plastic materials which are readily transparent, relatively inexpensive, and of suflicient structural integrity to support the weight of other packages stacked upon them, as dictated by the particular requirements of the packaging The package 10 also includes a premiumbase 14 made of relatively inexpensive lightweight moldable material, such as plastic foam material. Styrene foam material has been used to advantage in this connection and, as will be seen, is readily adapted to various uses by the consumer.

The cover 12 is rectangular in configuration and the sheet material thereof is formed in any suitable manner to define an elongated, centrally located, and downwardly opening chamber or cavity 16 defined by a horizontal wall 18, a pair of substantially vertical, spaced-apart walls 20 and 22, and a pair of end walls, one of which is illustrated at 24. In addition, the cover 12 inclues a pair of elongated, upwardly opening product receptacles or cavities 26 and 28 on opposite sides of the cavity 16. The cavity 26 is defined by a substantially vertical wall 30, the wall 20, a horizontal wall 32, and a pair of end walls, one of which is illustrated at 34. Likewise, the cavity 28 is defined by a substantially vertical wall 36, the wall 22, a horizontal wall 83, and a pair of end walls, one of which is illustrated at 40.

The cavities 26 and 28 are adapted to receive the products, which in this instance are constituted by cookies 4-2, although it will be apparent that the cavities are equally adapted to receive other types of products. Moreover, the cavities obviously may also be altered in configuration to receive various types of products.

The cover 12 thus acts as a receptacle for the cookies 42 and is structurally rigidified by. complemental association with the base 14 for feeding into suitable cellophane overwrapping machinery for wrapping the cover,

its contents, and the base with a protective layer of cellophane sheeting (not shown). For this purpose the base 14 is of rectangular configuration for complemental association withthe cover 12, and has edge margins substantially coextensive with the edge margins of the cover 12. The base 14 includes a stop means inthe form of a raised peripheral edge or lip 44. In addition, a peripheral shoulder 46 is located adjacent and coextensive with the lip 44, while the main body portion 48 of the base is located at a level below the level of the surrounding shoulder 46.

The base 14 further includes an elongated, centrally located, and integrally molded relief portion projecting above the base portion 48, and constituted by a figure 50 which is preferably in high relief. The figure 50 is complementally received, enclosed, and protected by the overlying and surrounding walls of the cavity 16 when the cover 12 is arranged in complemental relationship with the base 14. The molding of figures such as the figure 50 in plastic foam materials, such as styrene foam material, is well known in'the art and therefore will not be described in detail.

The base 14 also includes integrally molded low relief portions on opposite sides of the figure 50, these portions being constituted in the present instanceby a simulated tree 52 and a simulated dog 54. The low relief of the tree and dog 52 and 54 is such that'the horizontal walls 32 and 38 of the cover 12 are located slightly above the low relief portions of the base when these walls are resting upon the base shoulder 46 in engagement with the adjacent peripheral lip 44.

The peripheral lip 44 and shoulder 46 thus engage and constrain the cover 12 and its'contents against lateral movement so as to make possible the automatic cellophane overwrapping of the present package 10. In the absence of such lateral constraint, the component elements of the package would undesirably separate. In addition, the lip 44 and shoulder 46 define a picture frame surrounding the relief portions of the base to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the base, particularly if the consumer decorates the relief portions by painting them with different colors, for example. Moreover, the plastic foam nature of the base 14 is such that the consumer can easily cut or trim away the lip 44 and thereby provide a Wider, unbroken margin surrounding the main body portion 48 of the base 14 if desired.

The lip 44 need not extend about the complete periphery of the base 14, and could be provided only at the corners to provide the desired stop means to constrain the cover 12 against lateral movement during cellophane overwrapping. This would reduce the amount of material which the consumer would have to trim away if a wide, unbroken shoulder were desired about the margin of the base.

The package 10 thus provides a cover 12 which also constitutes a receptacle for the cookies 42, and also provides a base 14 to rigidify and support the complementary associated cover 12. Equally importantly, the cover is made of transparent material so that the integrally molded relief portions of the base 14 can be viewed through the cover and particularly through that portion of the cover which houses and protects the central or dominant figure 50 in nested relationship.

The ledge or shoulder 46 supports the cover 12 above the low relief tree and dog 52 and 54 to avoid crushing these portions.

The substantially vertical walls 20, 22, 30 and 36 are preferably slightly inclined from the vertical so that the cover 12 may be internested with identical covers 12 to reduce storage space in shipping and assembling the packages 10. Moreover, the relief portions of the base 14 may be made hollow, particularly the high relief figure 50, so that the base 14 may be stacked upon a number of identical bases to conserve storage and shipping space.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4,"and 5, a different form of premium-base 56 is illustrated which, like the premiumbase 14, includes the peripheral lip 44, the peripheral ledge or shoulder 46, and'the main body portion 48. However, the premium-base 56 includes a pair of high relief portions on opposite sides thereof, constituted by a figure half 58 and a figure half 60, one being the left half and the other being the right half of a figure simulating a baseball player.

The cover 12 may be utilized with the premium-base 56, except that the cover 12 is in this instance turned over so that the two cavities 26 and 28 overlie the figure halves 58 and 60, and the cavity 16 now opens upwardly to receive a product which, for example, may take the form of a toothpaste tube 62. In addition, the shoulder 46 may have to be made slightly wider to accommodate the taper of the substantially vertical walls of the cover 12, as will be apparent. Except for the reversal of the cover 12 and the different arrangement of the relief portions for the premium-base 56, the base 56 is substantially identical to the base 14 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The distinctive feature of the premium-base 56 is that after the cover 12 has been separated and discarded by the consumer, the base can be cut along the margins of the figure halves 58 and 60, and the halves 58 and 60 then appropriately trimmed and adhered together to form a three-dimensional figure which may be painted or otherwise decorated, .as desired.

Thus, the bases 14 and 56 of the embodiments abovedescribed each constitute premiums which can be used by the consumer after the covers therefor have been discarded, thereby enhancing the marketability of the packaged product.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A package comprising:

a base made of moldable material and including an integrally molded relief portion projecting above the main body portion of said base;

and a cover separably resting upon said base in complemental relationship and including an upwardly opening product receiving cavity and a downwardly opening cavity enclosing said relief portion in nested relationship, said cover being transparent at least in the area of said downwardly opening cavity whereby said relief portion is visible to the consumer.

2. A package comprising:

a base made of moldable material having peripherally located stop means and including an integrally molded relief portion projecting above the main body of said base;

and a transparent cover having an edge margin complemental with the edge margin of said base and engaging said stop means whereby said cover is constrained against lateral movement, said cover including an upwardly opening product receiving chamber and a downwardly opening chamber enclosing and protecting said relief portion in ntested relationship.

3. A package comprising:

a base made of moldable material and including an integrally molded high relief portion projecting above the central area of the main body portion of said base, and further including low relief portions on opposite sides of said high relief portion;

and a transparent cover separably resting upon said base in complement-a1 relationship and including a pair of spaced, upwardly opening product receiving cavities and a downwardly opening cavity between said pair of cavities enclosing said high relief portion in nested relationship.

4. A package comprising:

a base made of moldable material and including a pair of integrally molded high relief portions projecting above opposite side areas of the main body portion of said base;

and a transparent cover separably resting upon said base in complemental relationship and including a pair of downwardly opening cavities enclosing said high relief portions in nested relationship, and further including an upwardly opening product receiving cavity between said pair of cavities.

5. A package comprising:

a base made of moldable plastic foam material and including a pair of integrally molded high relief portions projecting above the main body portion of said base and adapted to be cut out of the material of said base and joined to form a three-dimensional object;

and a transparent cover separably resting upon said base in complemental relationship and including a pair of downwardly opening cavities enclosing said high relief portions in nested relationship, and further including an upwardly opening product receiving cavity between said pair of cavities.

6. Apackage comprising:

a rigid base made of moldable plastic foam material and including an integrally molded relief portion projecting above the main body portion of said base;

and a transparent cover separably resting upon said base in complemental relationship and including an upwardly opening product receiving cavity and a downwardly opening cavity enclosing said relief portion in nested relationship, the portions of said cover defining the substantially vertically oriented walls of said cavities being inclined from the vertical for nesting with identically configured transparent covers.

7. A package comprising:

a rigid base made of moldable material and including a raised peripheral lip and an adjacent peripheral shoulder, and further including an integrally molded relief portion projecting above the main body portion of said base;

and a transparent cover separably resting upon said peripheral shoulder in engagement with said peripheral lip for constraining said cover against lateral movement, said cover including an upwardly opening product receiving cavity and a downwardly open ing cavity enclosing said relief portion in nested relationship.

8. A package comprising:

a transparent product receptacle and premium cover including .an upwardly opening product receiving cavity and a downwardly opening cavity;

and a rigid base made of moldable plastic foam material and including an integrally molded relief portion projecting above the main body portion of said base and constituting a premium for a consumer, said base supporting said cover in complemental relationship with said relief portion located and protected within said downwardly opening cavity.

9. A package comprising:

.a base made of moldable material and including an integrally molded high relief portion projecting above the central area of the main body portion of said base, and further including low relief portions on opposite sides of said high relief portion;

and transparent cover means separably resting upon said base in complemental relationship and defining a pair of spaced, upwardly opening product receiv ing cavities extending along opposite sides of said high relief portion.

10. A package comprising:

a base made of moldable plastic foam material and including a pair of integrally molded high relief portions projecting above the main body portion of said base and adapted to be cut out of the material of said base and joined to form a three-dimensional object;

and transparent cover means separably resting upon said base in complemental relationship and including a pair of downwardly opening cavities enclosing said high relief portions in nested relationship and defining therebetween an upwardly opening product receiving cavity between said pair of cavities.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,809,896 10/57 Pierson et a1. 20645.33 3,029,936 4/62 Graber 20647 3,057,097 10/62 Douglas 16118 3,061,089 10/62 Higgins 20665 FOREIGN PATENTS 934,754 1/48 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

50 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. 

8. A PACKAGE COMPRISING: A TRANSPARENT PRODUCT RECEPTACLE AND PREMIUM COVER INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY OPENING PRODUCT RECEIVING CAVITY AND A DOWNWARDLY OPENING CAVITY; AND A RIGID BASE MADE OF MOLDABLE PLASTIC FOAM MATERIAL AND INCLUDING INTEGRALLY MOLEDE RELIEF POR- 